Huangpu District, makes up the eastern part of Shanghai's traditional urban core and is today the most central of Shanghai's 16 districts. Today's Huangpu District is sometimes referred to as "new Huangpu" to distinguish it from the pre-merger Huangpu District which existed before 2000. In 2000, the pre-merger Huangpu and Nanshi districts were combined to form a new district, also called Huangpu. In June 2011, the existing Huangpu District was combined with Luwan District to form a further new district, again called Huangpu. As a result of this merger, it currently has an area of 20.43 square kilometres (7.89 sq mi) and 678,670 inhabitants (as of 2010 census).
Huangpu district is the seat of municipal government, includes key attractions such as The Bund and the Old City God Temple, as well as popular shopping districts such as Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road. The Huangpu District is one of the most densely populated urban districts in the world.
Yu Garden
Yu Garden tourist area has two main scenic spots, Yu Garden and the old temple. It may be the first destination to visit in Shanghai. We can fully experience the folk customs of Shanghai and taste the traditional Shanghai snacks and local dishes. And every night, the colorful scenery lights on the antique building group also make it become a beautiful scenery line.
Yu Garden tourist area is located in the center of the eastern city of Huangpu District. It is a large area including sightseeing, shopping and catering. In addition to the old temple and Yu Garden, there are two major attractions, the zigzag bridge and the Huxin pavilion. You could not miss the Nanxiang Xiaolong. And you could also sit in the lvbolang restaurant, taste Shanghai cuisine while enjoying the floor down to the people.
Yu Garden tourist area is a perennial crowded place, because it is also a famous business district. There are a lot of wholesale markets gold and jewellery stores, and time-honored restaurants.
Shanghai Old Street
Shanghai Old Street, historically called Miaoqian Dajie, is an old business street that has a combination of tourist attractions, shops, entertainment and cultural exhibits. It owes its special social attractions and rich commercial background to the fact that the earliest bank, gold shop, jeweler's store, wine shop and tea house of the city were all to be found here.
There are about 225 stores on Shanghai Old Street, each designed carefully according to its function. Shops purveying handicraft articles, paintings, calligraphies and jewelry are well-appointed and give you plenty of variety from which to choose what you want. On the eastern part, old shops such as the Tong Han Chun Pharmacy, Lao Tong Sheng Food Store, Wu Liang Cai Glass Shop, De Shun restaurant, take you back to the Shanghai of 100 years ago. In the Chun Feng De Yi Lou teahouse, you can enjoy Yuanbao Tea served with two olives in it. On weekends, the Pingtan (Suzhou Ballads) are performed here too.
By the way, you can visit Yuyuan Garden which is a famous classical garden next to Shanghai Old Street. Here you will find the Temple of the City God, a Taoist temple and Chen Xiang Pavilion, a Buddhist temple are also in Yuyuan Garden Tourism Zone. You can walk to Xiao Tao Yuan Mosque, in which many kinds of Islamic food are provided here on Fridays, the Muslim holy day.
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is about 1200 meters long. Two sides of shops are all in your vision. The modern architecture with a European style old building with flashing neon light are full of exotic style. You can get in a “dang dang car” like a smaller version of the old tram to find the old Shanghai style.
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street start form Middle Xizang Road in the west (people's Square to the East), to Henan Road in the east. There is a dark red marble established in both side. Chairman Jiang Zemin wrote the name of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. Walking in the street, you could find some creative city sculpture, unique street lamp and telephone booths. Look down you could find a lot of manhole cover engraved with different patterns of city building. Of course, there are a lot of chairs for visitors to have a rest.
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is one of the busiest commercial streets in Shanghai. As early as the beginning of twentieth Century, it has become a gathering place for Department stores. Here is a shopping paradise.
People’s Square
People's square is a spectacular space in the heart of the city. It is a garden-type open space surrounded by buildings and facilities for administration, cultural activities, transportation and commerce. The People's Park, People's Mansion and Shanghai Museum are sitting on the central axis. The central square lies between People's Mansion and Shanghai Museum with two smaller squares on each side. The total area covers up to 1,806,600 square meters. It is arranged with a 320-square-meter water fountain, a Shanghai map and the ground is laid with granite stone. There are 36 lights with stereo around the central square and 6 pieces of relief which reflect history and culture of Shanghai.
Two small pieces of grasslands are decorated with flower terraces and sculptures. The large square is circled with a green belt made up of camphor trees, pines and shrubbery. A stone path, lined with chairs, wanders through the green belt.
People's Square is also the converging point where metro Line 1 meets Line 2. From the square you can reach many shopping centers.
Shanghai Museum
This must-see museum escorts you through the craft of millennia and the pages of Chinese history. It's home to one of the most impressive collections in the land: take your pick from the archaic green patinas of the Ancient Chinese Bronzes Gallery through to the silent solemnity of the Ancient Chinese Sculpture Gallery; from the exquisite beauty of the ceramics in the Zande Lou Gallery to the measured and timeless flourishes captured in the Chinese Calligraphy Gallery.
Chinese painting, seals, jade, Ming and Qing furniture, coins and ethnic costumes are also on offer, intelligently displayed in well-lit galleries. The building itself is designed to resemble the shape of an ancient Chinese dǐng (three-legged cooking vessel). The excellent museum shop sells postcards, a rich array of books, and faithful replicas of the museum's ceramics and other pieces.
The audio guide is well worth the ¥40 (deposit ¥400 or your passport). Expect to spend half, if not most of, a day here.
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Set over five levels, this modern museum covers Shanghai's urban planning history, tracing its development from swampy fishing village to modern-day megacity. Its mix of photography, models and interactive multimedia displays keeps things entertaining. The 1st floor covers the city's rise, including the establishment of the international settlement, and profiles its colonial architecture and shíkùmén (stone gate) housing. The most popular feature is on the 3rd floor – a visually stunning model showing a detailed layout of this megalopolis-to-be, plus an impressive Virtual World 3D wraparound tour.
The 4th floor is a bit more niche, covering themes of transport and sustainability, but all is well presented. There's a small cafe on the 5th floor overlooking People's Park. Audio guides are ¥20, but exhibits are generally well-captioned. The 2nd floor shows temporary exhibits.
Upon exiting you'll find yourself in 'Old Shanghai Street', a re-creation of 1930s Shanghai, complete with vintage cars, historical photographs and a cobble-stone walkway that leads to a modern underground shopping plaza.
Huaihai Road
On a par with Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road is another one of the busiest streets in Shanghai. With numerous modern buildings and fashionable branded merchandise, it is acknowledged as the most beautiful and romantic shopping street all over Shanghai. The pleasant shopping environment, high-end restaurants and excellent hotel services all contribute to the popularity of the street. As the ‘Oriental Avenue des Champs-Élysées’, the shopping street often reminds people of Fifth Avenue in New York, Ginza Tokyo in Japan and Orchard Road in Singapore.
To local residents, Huaihai Road generally refers to Mid Huaihai Road, which runs from South Shaanxi Road to South Tibet Road.
Famous as a paradise for shoppers, the street has a large number of international brand stores, for example, the flagship stores of Zara, H&M, C&A, and Adidas. Large shopping centers, such as the Golden Bell Plaza, Hong Kong Plaza, Libao Plaza, Shanghai Times Square, Kering Department Store, Pacific Department Store, and Parkson Shopping Center, offer luxurious and the latest high-end goods. If you are keen on products of superb quality, you can find almost all designer goods here, like Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci and Tiffany.
Shanghai Natural History Museum
Perhaps not quite on the same scale as the Smithsonian, Shanghai's new sleek space would nevertheless be a fitting choice for a Night at the Museum movie. As comprehensive as it is entertaining and informative, the museum is packed with displays of taxidermied animals, dinosaurs and cool interactive features. Its architecture is also a highlight, with a striking design that is beautifully integrated in its art-filled Jing’an Sculpture Park setting.
Spread over five levels, life-size creatures are the focal point throughout, with taxidermied (mostly realistic) animals, birds and reptiles, and models of soaring marine animals hanging spectacularly from the top floor. The African Savannah exhibit on the basement floor is a highlight, capturing all the drama of life on the plains with an epic full-wall animation feature screening on the hour.
Dinosaur fossils are well represented (including the indigenous Yunnanese 'Lufeng lizard'); these are interspersed with impressive life-like mechanical dinosaurs that move and roar.
The building's exterior spirals like a nautilus shell topped by a curved lawn embankment, Chinese-inspired water garden and vertical garden wall. Within, the main architectural feature is a 30m-high glass atrium, with a conical molecular-shaped glass 'cell wall' that floods the building with natural light. Symbolic of the living organisms within, its transparent core holds a tranquil courtyard garden with a pond full of plants, trickling waterfalls and rocky outcrops.
